Lighting Circuits
There are several methods for wiring lighting circuits. These often depend on the actual installation type and adequacy of access. The methods will differ when installed in conduit, multicore cables and when access to cables is limited. Below are some examples based upon the most simplest form of wiring a lighting circuit.
Example lighting circuits
1 Way Lighting
Below is what we would call a very basic example of a 1 way lighting circuit:
An example of a 1 way lighting circuit. Click on switch to operate.
The 1 way circuit is simple and ideal if you want to control one or more luminaires with a single switch, such as a typical bedroom situation or any commercial room with only one entrance and exit.
2 Way Lighting
If we have a situation however where we need to control a fitting from more than one switch, such as on a typical flight of stairs, we need to consider a two way switch as below:
An example of a 2 way lighting circuit. Click on switches to operate.
This will solve switching on a single flight of stairs in a domestic situation or perhaps a short corridor but there are times when we need more than one switch to control a light.
2 Way and Intermediate
If we wanted to expand the amount of switches controlling one or more luminaires such as on a multi storey staircase, then we can add an additional switch known as an intermediate switch as below:
More Information
The following PDF contains more in depth information about electrical wiring systems and lighting circuits particularly focusing on domestic wiring and the three plate method.
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